Eichan Tempura (えいちゃんてんぷら)

👋 Haisai! It’s CULT here.
Today, I thought it might be a good idea to pack a lunch before embarking on a journey along Route 58, so I’m writing this. Many travellers head straight to the north as soon as they arrive at Naha Airport, and I’ve noticed, after meeting various travellers recently, that they seem to be in such a rush, skipping meals. So, I’ve prepared this for you. Before you head north on Route 58, why not visit a delicious local bento spot, Eichan Tempura (えいちゃんてんぷら)?
They are open from 8 AM to 1 PM on weekdays, so if you can visit during those hours, I recommend giving it a try. The prices are reasonable, and you can enjoy a truly local bento that the locals eat.

📌 Location and Opening Hours

Right next to Aichan Tempura, you can see Route 58 on the map. This area allows for very brief parking on the shoulder, so you can quickly purchase a bento. Please note that only cash is accepted, and they are closed on weekends and Japanese national holidays. This area has many local workplaces, so they strictly operate according to the times when office workers buy their lunch. You can actually purchase a bento from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. [Google Map]

This is a place I used to visit quite often when I worked at my previous company. I was unexpectedly given a same-day dismissal notice by the owner, which was quite surprising, but now I’m living a more enjoyable life. It was quite a peculiar company where more than 10 employees were let go each year 🤣
Anyway, it’s a decent bento shop, so do give it a visit. My recommendation is to go before 11:30 AM. They have limited sales every day.

There are three famous lunchbox shops nearby, but unfortunately, the owners are quite elderly, which is a concern. In a few years, we might not be able to enjoy these delicious and affordable lunchboxes. I feel quite lucky. I might be part of the last generation to experience this.

These lunchboxes always excite me about what to eat. The menu changes daily, so I can’t recommend a specific dish. You have to choose what appeals to you. The number of side dishes is also somewhat random. Even if you buy two of the same, sometimes the number of side dishes differs slightly. Since a grandmother prepares each one by hand, please be understanding.

🍱 A Variety of Bento Boxes

This is a fish-based lunchbox. It’s hard to define a specific name for it because the side dishes change slightly if you go tomorrow. The side dishes depend on grandma’s mood. Most lunchboxes range from 300 to 600 yen, but if they include fish like this, it’s usually 600 yen. It’s more generous and tastier than a convenience store lunchbox.

A simple lunchbox.
These usually cost around 400 yen. It feels like a lunchbox hastily packed by a busy mum in the morning, but if you’re still hungry after a fish lunchbox, having this as well will fill you up. The purple item on the left is a fritter made from beniimo sweet potato, which is a specialty of Okinawa, though it’s somewhat of an acquired taste. It’s often sold as a souvenir snack.

• Related post: Don Quijote Beniimo Tart

This is a land, sea, and air style lunchbox. It includes a bit of fish, a bit of pork, and a bit of chicken all together. The lunchbox changes daily, but this one is available almost every day. Perhaps it’s because it’s so popular.

It’s a style similar to bibimbap that Koreans would love.
Unfortunately, without gochujang, it can’t be mixed like bibimbap, but the spinach is incredibly tender, making it easy to enjoy with the rice at the bottom of the lunchbox. No matter how you think about it, with just some gochujang, this would be a truly perfect Korean dish.

It’s a bento in the style of tonkatsu, but… the side dishes around the tonkatsu change daily. True to the name E-chan Tempura, there’s a bit of tempura, as well as oden and sausage. You can really try a variety of things in this small bento.

This is a chicken katsu style lunchbox.
Below, there’s also goya champuru. It’s a traditional Okinawan dish. Next to it, there’s a bit of… Okinawa soba, making it a mixed Okinawa + Japanese style lunchbox. Of course, the side dishes change daily, so who knows what it will be tomorrow.

This is a karaage lunchbox.
As the name suggests, at E-chan Tempura, the fried dishes seem particularly delicious.

Next up is the fried fish. Personally, I love fried fish, so this bento is my favourite. The fried fish is boneless, making it even easier to enjoy.

This is… a bento that seems to be made from leftover side dishes from various other bentos, and it’s great for those with a smaller appetite. I have this as my second bento. Just one isn’t quite enough for me. I usually eat a lot.

This is donburi.
I find it delicious, but it might taste a bit bland for Korean palates. It’s topped with tonkatsu and egg, but the portion of rice is quite large, so if you don’t distribute the side dishes well, you might end up with a lot of leftover rice. Make sure to distribute the rice carefully.

These are triangular rice balls. These lunchboxes are the cheapest at 300 yen. I think they might be the best travel companion.

Since I’ve tried most of the menu at Aichan Tempura, there are some repeated photos. I must have taken many pictures because it was delicious, right?
It was a delightful lunch spot with delicious bento that I enjoyed. If you’re in Okinawa and wondering what to eat before heading north, or if you arrive in Naha early in the morning and are curious about what the locals really eat, I recommend visiting this place. It’s tasty.

That’s all for today. I’ll wrap up here and return tomorrow with more news from my Okinawa travels. Matayasai 👋

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